The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1887-12-17
A CRAZY ENGINEER.
Thrilling Story OF tho Lake Shore
Railroad.
A Midnight Ride with "a Mad Engineer -
Experience of Old Rob whit
takcr, ~ Veteran Central
Engineer.

THAT was n mighty exciting sioi,
In the Ecening sun the other day
about Engineer Botsworlh. who won't
mad In his locomotive cab on the
Wabash road out in Iowa. and. after
nearly wrecking the train. tried TO
jump from the window said old Bob
Whitaker, veteran engineer on tho
Nsw York Central yesterday. "but IL
wasn't circumstance 10 tho cxperi-
cnce once had with crazy man at
the throttle"
Whitaker was urged 10 tell his
story. ard proceeded In the deliberate
style OF old-fashionel story-tellcrs:
Forty years on the foot-board are
not apt TO pass without some thrilling
episodes" he began, "and I've had
my share; but nothing ever made my
cap rise Off my head and my heart sink
clear into my boots as did the event I'm
going to tell you about. II happened
dozen years or so ago. | was run
ming on the Lake Shore road then.
from Cleveland to Chicago I'd Iost
my job as engineer. so | shipped as
fireman. The engineer was strong
wiry man. considerably larger than
myself, named Zic Franklin. IIe was
called one of the best engineers Of the
West, but was trinc eccentric. |
had been running as fireman with Iicl
for several months, when we started
one night TO take the fast mail from
Cleveland to Chicago.
1T was drizzling. gloomy night.
very much like what we've been hav-
Ing Ia New York for week. aud dark
or than ton Of Lackawanna coal. We
had No. 3l3. the biggest aud newest
machine on the road. and terror for
speed Our regular engine. No. 1872,
had been stabbed for repairs. I'm not
naturally superstitious. like most rail-
roaders but the weather had made me
kind o blue, s'pose, OF my supper
didn't set quite right and rs we pulled
out Of the Cleveland station at 1918
p. M. | couldn't help thinking about
that thirteen in tho engines number.
Besides. /, was early spring, the ground
was soft from the rain. and the going
was very dangerous. Iiel seemed %
he depressed by the weather or some
thing else. Just a, was We logged
on and on into the inky darkness Mt
steady pace Of forty.Gye miles an hour
Tho heavy train Of four mail aud ex-
press cars, two day coaches and three
slcepers rumblcd mOnotonously behind
us. Neither Il US had spoken for an
hour. Zel was Watching the track as
~ he expected tito hy up and run away.
j was conjuring up more blue devils
over the nasty night and the presence
Of that unlucy thirteen in the engines
number
Suddenly. just as ] was wondering
for the odd huudredth time whether
there was any thing in luck signs. any
way. Zcl jumped from his box aud
threw open the furnace door He
stood molionless for fully a minute.
glaring into The fire
4" Ohol hats the way Of II, ehP he
cried nj last turning sharply 10 me.
The food Of light from the red-hot
Goals poured full on his face. The
features were horribly distorted, and
bis eye. bulgcd from their sockets
That's the way II II, ehY he repeat.
ed. glowering fercely NJ me.
II guess ~. Iei.' said ], not know
ing what clss 10 say. and trying 10
force a laugh / had decided tbst he
was drunk.
"Ohol that's II, eh? he roared
again. 1tIs. clip Ohol thought 50.
Well. make mp the fire then.
Il was too a.tonisked ~ stir for an
instant A. the fire needed no making
UP. He noted my hesitation.
" Make mp that freH he yelled
Heap her up and be quick about It,
dye bcar9'
without a word threw In several
,hovels Of coal Almost instantly the
steam gauge b3gar % run up Ziel
noted II complacent'y lie peered out
along tie tracks again in grim silence.
Presently he turned and said with
fearful oath: Didn'tI tell yOu 10 heap